In some countries, there’s a Ministry of Social Affairs. In others, they talk about social aid. And in a few, they speak of social rights. It’s not a minor detail. The way a country names these structures reveals how it understands the relationship between the state and its citizens. If you’re given aid, it’s because someone decides to give you something. If you have a right, it’s because it belongs to you, it doesn’t depend on anyone’s will.

The difference lies in the starting point. A country that talks about social rights understands that taking care of people is not optional, it’s an obligation. A country that talks about aid makes it clear it’s doing you a favor. Language shows how evolved a country is in how it treats those who need help the most. And yes, the difference is very clear.